Hong Kong = Fastest Economy - 15 years in a row.

Hong Kong ranks first as the 2009 Index of Economic Freedom for the 15th consecutive year by the U.S. Heritage Foundation. In details:1. First in trade freedom, investment freedom and financial freedom.2. Top 10 in business freedom, monetary freedom and property rights.

Our strengths, according to the report:1. Income and corporate tax rates were very competitive.2. Overall all taxation was relatively small as a percentage of GDP.

The top 10 on the 2009 index of Economic Freedom (and scores out of 100)

Country

Index Scores

Hong Kong

90

Singapore

87.1

Australia

82.6

Ireland

82.2

New Zealand

82

US

80.7

Canada

80.5

Denmark

79.6

Switzerland

79.4

UK

79

Congratulation Hong Kong! Let's keep up our momentum. 2010 Index will be a challenge cause it will be including the impact of the financial crisis. We need to try our best.